Under normal
circumstances,
all
numbers are
compared to
the number 1
using
division.

For example,
the number 3 is
only a 3 when
it is compared
to the number 1
using
division.
It is three
times as big as
the number
1.

However, a %
does not use
the number 1
for comparison
purposes.

A %
is used to
compare
a number
(any number)
to
100using
division.

Continuing on
with the number
3 compared to
the number 1 as
an example, the
result is:
(Note that the
quotient must
still equal 3.
The number 300
is three times
as big as
100.)

The final
percentage
is:

3 =
300%

. . .
Any
Numbercan be
converted to a
percent

You can
complete a
short
calculation
similar to the
example shown
above, or . .
.

. . . Just move
the decimal
point to the
right by two
places.

(2)
Where
is a % symbol
used?

. . .
A %
symbol is
only
used to
represent a
proportion.

A
percent tells
you that you
are dealing
with a
ratio
, or relative
comparison
(using
division).

Although any
number can be
converted into
a %, percents
are only used
to represent
ratios
(proportions).

. . .
What is
the
point of
converting
a ratio to a
%?

Is there any
advantage to
saying 5.6%
instead of
.056?

Read on . .
.

(3)
How
is a % symbol
used in
everyday
life?

. . .
There are
thousands
and thousands
of
applications
where the
concept of a
percent is used
every day.

The fact that a
percent
represents a
proportion (a
relative
comparison) is
what makes
valuable.

Here are some
common
examples
:

. . .
Sales
Tax
. . .

When you pay a
sales tax, the
tax rate will
be stated as a
%
.

If the sales
tax rate is 8%,
this means that
you will pay
the government
a tax of 8
dollars
for
every
100
dollars you
spend.

If you spend
$100, you owe a
tax of $8. If
you spend $200,
you owe tax of
$16. If you
spend $50, you
owe a tax of
$4. If you
spend $25, you
owe a tax of
$2, and so on.
The sales tax
you owe is
always the same
proportion of
what you spend
(in these
examples it is
8% of what you
spend).

. . .
Bank
Interest
. . .

If you deposit
money in a
bank, the
interest the
bank will pay
on your account
will be stated
as a
%
.

If the interest
rate is 5%
(simple annual
interest), this
means that the
bank will pay
you 5 dollars
for
every
$100 you
leave in your
account for one
year.

If you leave a
$100 deposit in
the bank for
two years, you
will receive
$10 ($5 per
year). If you
leave a $100
deposit in the
bank for only
six months, you
will receive
$2.50, and so
on. The amount
your deposit
earns is always
the same
proportion.

. . .
Credit
Card
Interest
. . .

If you use a
credit card,
the interest
you pay on the
outstanding
balance you owe
will be stated
as a
%
.

If the interest
rate is 20%
(simple annual
interest), this
means that you
pay the credit
card company an
extra 20
dollars per
year
for
every
$100 of
unpaid
debt.

. . .
Test
Grades in
School
. . .

Test grades in
school are
often stated as
a %
.

If a student
has a test
average of 81%,
this means that
for
every
100
questions the
student answers
on his or her
tests, 81
questions are
answered
correctly.

. . .
Slope of
a railroad
track
. . .

Slope (the
incline of the
tracks) is
often stated as
a %
.

If a slope of a
railroad track
is a 5% grade,
this means that
for
every
100 feet
of horizontal
distance the
tracks drop (or
increase) 5
feet in
elevation.

. . .
Survey
(Poll)
. . .

Survey results
are often
stated as a
%
.

If a survey
found that 75%
of restaurant
patrons
preferred a
certain type of
food, this
means that
for
every
100
people, 75
people prefer
that type of
food.